A well-made gaming laptop PC but weighed down by the high price? – LaptopSpirit

If gaming laptops remain the most popular models, it is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to stand out in a now mature market. Some focus on looks, others on price. Asus, for its part, is trying to reconcile both with its Strix G16. A trendy 16-inch diagonal, chassis designed for gamers and high-performance components but without reaching the heights to keep prices (still) accessible. Has Asus got the recipe to stand out and attract gamers?

DNA designed for players and a few surprises

Instead Quiet design level As the only artifice with its gray color and its ROG logo, the Asus Strix G16 does not escape the stereotypes of gaming laptop PCs: imposing, it shows a presence that is not only visually but also physically thicker than 3 cm. her weight (2.5 kg), relatively material For its series, Asus shows the work of engineers to solve technical constraints without completely sacrificing mobility. Nomads will appreciateExcellent autonomywith above Ten hours are measured in web browsing (via Energy Saving Profile). The G16 thus stands out against its competitors thanks to its 90 Wh battery!

While the outer shell of the screen is made of aluminum, the rest of the chassis is made of polycarbonate. Discounts necessary to maintain a competitive price (the G16 is offered from €1500). The perceived quality remains satisfactory, as well Assembly adjusted in millimeters. And like the Zephyrus and Strix Scar, the most premium models in the Asus ROG range, the bottom of the chassis is adorned with a small details generally Gamer. The accessibility of the components is a model of its kind with about ten screws, one of which raises the chassis slightly, thus making it easier to unlock the clips. RAM and two SSD slots can be upgraded if required.

Once opened, the Asus ROG Strix G16 shows a bit more originality. Some the keys

of keyboards, mainly used in gaming Translucent Once the backlight is activated. associated with RGB LED Strip Located at the front of the PC, this provides a subtle visual experience. Apart from the aesthetic aspect, the Keyboard Reveals Comfortable (keys 15.5×15.2 mm – 3.8 mm space), responsively responds to fast keystrokes both during gaming sessions (1.7 mm travel) and longer text entries. A similar observation for Touchpad (130×85 mm), with the added bonus of glass surface More pleasant and durable.

Connectivity is defined in standards. Rather complete and designed to meet the needs of gamers, it includes HDMI, Ethernet, 2 USB-A and 2 USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4. Charging via USB-C is possible but only as a backup, due to insufficient power. Matches the supplied 280W power supply, bulky to say the least (800g – 19×9 cm!).

On the sound side, Asus was better than we were used to. If the power is there, rendering remains similar to an entry-level laptop. Bass is not very present, treble is muddled. As an extra, this helps but for real immersion in the action, a headset is essential. Same disappointment on the webcam side. Average image quality, punctuated by a red cast and a distinct lack of detail. As for Windows Hello, it is conspicuous by its absence. loss.

The ROG Strix G16 is offered with two different screens. On the one hand slab From 1920×1200 pixels with a refresh rate of 165HzAnd on the other hand, with a slab of 2560×1600 Pixels for 240Hz. Enough to satisfy players looking for fluidity and visual beauty. The latter is also brighter, with better colorimetry (around 450 nits compared to 310 nits for Full HD+) and coverage of the RGB/DCI-P3 space (vs sRGB only). A slightly warmer core (6000K) was also noted on our example.

screen on 16:10 format An admirable addition to everyday life to benefit from a more comfortable height. If the hinges provide good support and one-handed opening, a greater opening angle would benefit (around 130°).

A chassis designed to accommodate the best GPUs and CPUs

On the configuration side, this Asus ROG Strix G16 is a chameleon, capable of adapting to a wide range of needs and budgets. From the Core i5-13450HX to the Core i9-13980HX, including the choice of reason, the Core i7-13650HX.

This Intel Raptor Lake processors Nvidia Ada Lovelace is accompanied by an equally wide selection of graphics cards: GeForce RTX 4050 (Strix G16 G614JU), GeForce RTX 4060 (Strix G16 G614JV), GeForce RTX 4070 (Strix G16 G1408 and GeForce G1040 6 G614JZ).

The Asus ROG Strix G16 tested is the entry-level version and therefore equipped with a processor Intel Core i5-13450HX

(10 cores – 6 efficient + 4 efficient) and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (with TGP of 140W). Delivered performance may prove adequate for casual gamers, willing to activate DLSS if necessary to enjoy better playability with advanced AAA. Otherwise, it’s better to go with an RTX 4070-based configuration to be able to play in Ultra with or without DLSS enabled.

The Core i5 performs brilliantly. Very close to the Core i7-13700H (tested on the Asus Vivobook Pro 15), it’s also on par with the Ryzen 9 7940HS or Core i9-11900H. The picture of the progress made with the opportunity to recall the latest generations of Intel processors and the Core i5 is certainly less “prestigious” but not without interest.

With a cooling system designed to handle more raw power, temperatures pose little trouble, whether on the surface or inside (average 90°C CPU – 65°C GPU). As for the noise pollution, it remains oscillating around 45 dBA (Performance mode) and 53 dBA (Turbo mode). The latter only adds a small boost to performance, not worth picking up in armory crate utility. Beyond pure statistics, let’s once again emphasize the importance of fan frequency. Asus has been putting considerable effort into this issue for years with the most “tolerable” assumptions on the market. Of course, the fans are audible but they don’t have that unpleasant high frequency that adds to the feeling of discomfort.

Our take on the Asus ROG Strix G16: It won’t be unanimous

Often cited as a reference, Asus once again demonstrates its knowledge of portable (gaming) PCs. The ROG Strix G16 isn’t the heaviest on the market, or the most efficient, or the most affordable, but it’s a great choice for those looking for a laptop designed for gaming or, failing that, for those looking for a laptop where the CPU and GPU are subservient. Prolonged stress.

Situations where having a laptop with an excellent cooling system is essential. This is one of the primary qualities of the Asus ROG Strix G16, as is its autonomy, even if it is not this argument that risks being marked with gamers. The latter will undoubtedly be more sensitive to RGB keyboards or gamer looks, but not by much.

However, with an entry ticket of €1,500, the ROG Strix G16 has to compete with a lot of competition. This is undoubtedly its main Achilles heel (along with the absence of Windows Hello).

Asus ROG Strix G16 gets a 4/5 rating

Tested configuration of Asus ROG Strix G16

screen	16″ Full HD LED IPS 16/10th sRGB 165Hz (1920×12080, Anti-Glare/Matte)
processor	Intel Core i5-13450HXHX Raptor Lake-H (10 Core: 6P / 4E)
Installed RAM (Maximum)	16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5 4800 MHz (64 GB), 2 slots (occupied)
graphic card	NVIDIA Ada Lovelace GeForce RTX 4050 8 GB Dedicated GDDR6 (140W, 2520MHz Boost), Intel Iris Xe and Optimus
Collection	512GB M.2 SSD (NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4)
Connections	2 USB 3.2 (Gen2) + 1 USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen2) + 1 USB-C Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz)
network	6-axis Wi-Fi (2×2, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201), Bluetooth 5.2 + Gigabit Ethernet
Backlit keyboard	Yes, RGB (1.7mm stroke)
Numeric keypad	–
Windows Hello	–
Audio system	2 speakers (2 x 2W), SmartAmp Dolby Atmos
operating system	Windows 11 64-bit
Announced autonomy / battery	5 hrs / Li-Polymer 4 cells 90Whr
Weight / Dimensions (mm)	2.5 kg / 354 x 264 x 22.6-30.4